An American airliner flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles was diverted on Wednesday night after a passenger handed a "strange note" to a flight attendant, US federal authorities said.

The Delta Airlines flight was diverted after the pilot reported a disturbance in the cabin.

Edward A Stephenson, 36, of Venice, California, was arrested and charged with interfering with a flight crew member and attendants, FBI spokeswoman Sheila Thorne said.

Delta Flight 357 landed safely in Shreveport, Louisiana, at around 1500 local time (2000 GMT).

It was escorted by US F-16 fighter jets.

The plane continued on to Los Angeles where it landed without incident.

Four of the passengers were so shaken by the incident they got off the plane at Shreveport, according to reports.

'Strange note'

US Attorney Bill Flanagan said the note was in response to an announcement by the pilot that they would be taking a different flight path.

"The passenger handed a note to the flight attendant that
contained language that the pilot should not divert from
the original flight path, and some other language which
seemed bizarre," Mr Flanagan said.

"It didn't make a lot of sense, but at the same time it was alarming".

The man did not make any physical threats, Mr Flanagan said.

According to police, Mr Stephenson appeared disoriented when he was taken off the
plane.